14.Today many people live longer lives with more physical and mental strength.The"life cycle"from childhood to adulthood and into older age is different from previous generations.How are ideas about the life cycle changing?
One American writer,Gail Sheehy,has identified some new trends in the life cycle.She separates life into decades,10-year sections.Her definitions are optimistic and positive,and they may help people understand themselves as they grow older.
The ages between twenty and thirty are times of experimentation.People in their twenties try many new things with a lot of energy.They search for a path for their lives.Their responsibilities are not usually serious,and they can experiment with lifestyles choices.But when they become thirty,they pass to a stage called"First Adulthood."In this stage of life,people begin to think for themselves.They become independent and more ambitious.They begin to define themselves within society.
In the next stage of life,the forties,people begin to prepare themselves for leadership positions.Gail Sheehy sees people in their forties as working hard.They want to be successful.They have to take care of their families and begin to be masters of their work and themselves.She calls moving from this stage into the fifties the passage to the"Age of Mastery."People in fifties have new positive feeling.They begin to see different things they can do with their lives.They become adventurers.They also begin to question their values.They want to live their lives better,with more truth.They struggle to understand the world and themselves.
She calls the next stage the"Age of Integrity."When people become sixty,they want to live their lives with real values.They work to keep their minds active.They recommit themselves to their families with love.They begin to take some active risk-taking for the future.It is a time of real maturity.Ms.Sheehy calls people in their seventies wise,people in their eighties free,and those in their nineties noble.The life cycle Ms.Sheehy writes about is long and hopeful.
16.According to Gail Sheehy,the life cycleB.
A.goes through 3stages
B.can be divided into different ages lasting ten years long
C.helps people understand themselves better.
D.determines people's life styles
17."First adulthood"refers to the stageD.
A.where people take up a lot of serious responsibilities
B.where people are between twenty and thirty
C.that is most important period of the life cycle
D.where people tend to be independent and more ambitious
18.To Ms.Sheehy's eye,people in their seventies areC?
A.free
B.mature
C.wise
D.a(chǎn)dventurers.